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European Foresters’ Orienteering Championship has Come to an End

On 6-10 August, Sigulda hosted the 25th European Foresters’ Orienteering Championship (EFOL), which brought together 417 participants from 15 European countries.

The championship was opened with a parade through Sigulda, and in Sigulda Castle ruins the participants were welcomed by Chairman of Sigulda Municipality Council Uģis Mitrevics, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Ringolds Arnītis, EFOL President Mārtiņš Gaigals and the world champion in orienteering sport 2012 and double bronze winner Edgars Bertuks.

The race was held in three disciplines: foresters middle distance, sprint and relay, competing in 33 age and proficiency groups. Latvia with 117 participants, Norway with 71 participants and Poland with 59 participants were the most widely represented countries. The 84-year old Hans K. Ruud from Norway was the oldest participant, and he won the sprint distance in the group of men over 80 years of age.

The foresters middle distance took place in Laurenči Ravine, right after the finish of the participants of the World Championship. The distance was both physically and technically challenging. It delighted the participants with the beautiful views of the River Gauja valley, however, the many cropped trees and wasps' nests made the participants extra careful and attentive. In this discipline, the Latvian team received a total of 31 medals. 15 Latvian athletes became winners in their age groups: Patrīcija Valaine (W12), Renārs Grasis (M12), Māra Krūmiņa (W14), Audris Odo Vītoliņš (M14), Arta Jonase (W18), Sabīne Dzalba (W20), Anatolijs Tarasovs (M21), Linda Krūmiņa (W35), Jānis Krūmiņš (M35), Līga Virbule (W45), Videga Gaigala (W50), Gunta Dudele (W55), Gunta Lebedoka (W60), Ilmārs Limbēns (M70) and Rodrigo Slaviņš (M75).

The sprint race took place in the beautiful surroundings of Sigulda Castle. Participants had to face an extra challenge and quickly find their way around in the labyrinths of the ruins of Sigulda Castle and the adjacent fortress. 28 Latvian athletes successfully passed the challenge and climbed on the podium. 12 Latvian athletes became winners in their age groups: Patrīcija Valaine (W12), Emīls Šulcs (M12), Māra Krūmiņa (W14), Kristīne Brunere (W16), Edijs Dzalbs (M18), Sabīne Dzalba (W20), Anatolijs Tarasovs (M21), Dace Gaigala (W35), Jānis Krūmiņš (M35), Līga Virbule (W45), Gunta Lebedoka (W60) and Rodrigo Slaviņš (M75).

The relay took place in Turaida, the day after the World Championship relay discipline. Participants had an opportunity to go and visit the World Championship checkpoints and take similar steps in the physically and technically complex area of Turaida Museum Reserve. For many, this caused great difficulty. The race was held in 16 age groups, and a total of 105 teams competed in this discipline; the toughest competition was among the strongest men and veterans. There were 20 Latvian teams on the honorary pedestal, and seven of them became winners. The following participants were announced the winners of the race: Adrians Kuģenieks and Emīls Šulcs (M12), Lība Luīze Eltermane and Līva Elīza Andersone (W12), Elīza Bremze and Māra Krūmiņa (W14), Jēkabs Segliņš and Rolands Lūkins (M18), Edijs Dzalbs, Nauris Neimanis and Jānis Krūmiņš (M21), Jānis Brauns, Harijs Meiers and Kaspars Zudrags (M120), Elīna Andersone, Ieva Rode and Ieva Meiere (W120), Indra Segliņa, Gunta Dudele and Līga Virbule (W145), Silvija Segliņa, Rudīte Šterna and Gunta Lebedoka (W195).

During the competition, participants had an opportunity to get acquainted with the Latvian forestry companies. Representatives of JSC “Latva's State Forests”, SIA “Sodra mežs”, cooperative society “L.V. Mežs” and SIA “Latvijas mežu kompānija” told the participants about the innovations in the Latvian forest sector, while the Nature Protection Board in a special seminar gave a presentation on the nature conservation practices in Latvia.

The competition was supported by Sigulda City Council, the Nature Protection Board and members of the society “Meža sports” (Forest Sports): Ogre Technical School, the Forest Faculty of Latvia University of Agriculture, JSC “Latvia's State Forests”, JSC “Latvijas Finieris”, SIA “Rīgas meži”.

The 26th European Foresters’ Orienteering Championship will take place in Czech Republic. Members of the Latvian forestry sector, forest owners and their family members are also invited to take part in this race. Results and photos are available on the competition website.